Chapter 76 – Gloria Part 2

Translator: SFBaka

Editor: Thor’s Stone

“Can I ride on top of your arm?”

“Of course you can, chief.”

In the next instant, I stood on top of one of Gloria’s arms. Since I appeared on top of her arm without warning, Gloria got startled at first, but she quickly calmed down and started walking ahead.

Hou. So there was an underground pond within the cave huh. It looks like the pond was pretty deep, and the water clarity was superb.

“I always take my baths here, chief.”

Oh, Gloria’s way of speaking actually got all formal.

“I see. It looks like a pretty comfortable spot.”

Gloria seemed happy that her dwelling got praised. She showed me around until the entrance of the cave and walked back to the interior afterward.

“Alan, we finally decided on a voice for her. Try speaking now, Gloria!”

“Um, what should I talk about?”

Her way of speaking went back to how it was before, but she sounded a lot younger than when she first spoke. She sounded like a girl of the same age as Sharon and Selena.

She sounded pretty cute, and the tone perfectly embodies Gloria’s honest and straightforward personality as well. This voice certainly does seem perfect for her.

“Yeah, it’s good. I think it really suits you.”

“Right!? I think so too.”

Sharon seems really pleased with herself.

“Captain, can you take a look at this?”

The scene in front of me suddenly changed. It looks like I moved to a corner of one of the inner chambers.

“Oh! This is–!?”

I found a good number of glittering stuff that looked decidedly like precious jewels before me. Well, they appeared to be unprocessed though. So instead of proper jewels, they were still gem ores at present. They came in many shapes and sizes. They ranged from being as large as an adult’s fist to as large as an adult human’s head.

But there weren’t just gems present. There were also assorted swords, armors, as well as boxes and tools I couldn’t identify. Anyway, there was a lot of stuff inside the cave chamber. The only thing they had in common was that they all glittered like heck.

“These are all things my mother collected. Mother really liked things that glittered, so she always picked some things up whenever she went out for a stroll.”

“Hm. I see. So these are probably treasures huh.”

“If you’re in need of them, then please feel free to take them with you, chief. I don’t really need them anyway.”

“Uh, but aren’t these mementos left by your late mother? You should treasure them.”

I’m not a degenerate who covets his subordinate’s treasures after all.

“Is that so? I was actually planning to leave them all here once it’s time to move to our new settlement though…”

It looks like she really didn’t care about them at all huh. But no matter how you look at them, these things can definitely be considered valuable treasures.

“You have to take good care of them. We’ll help you transport them once it’s time to move.”

“Understood.”

“Well then, I think it’s about time for us to return.”

“We’ll stay here for a bit more. We haven’t had the opportunity to talk with Gloria yet after all.”

“I’m so happy! I can’t believe how good this day turned out to be! I carried everyone and flew with them, raced with D-10, and now I even got to talk with you all!”

(Iris, what’s this about racing D-10?)

『She’s referring to the drone D-10. She seemed a little afraid of the drones, so I had her race with one in the afternoon to lessen her wariness and build camaraderie.』

(A race huh… You made sure to hold back, right?)

『Of course.』

(I see. ……Thank you. Do everything you can to make Gloria not feel the least bit lonely.)

『Understood. I was thinking of letting Gloria help in the base construction. Would that be fine with you, Captain?』

(Oh, that’s a good idea. Sure, go ahead and let her help out. It would be a nice way to kill time and ease her boredom.)

“Alright. I’ll go ahead and return, girls. And Gloria, if you have something important to tell me or if you just want to talk to me, just wish for it, and it’ll happen.”

“Understood. Thank you so much, clan chief.”

The following day, Sharon and Selena had sleepy looks on their faces during breakfast. Perhaps they stayed up talking to Gloria until late last night.

“Alan-sama, we’ll be in your care for today’s training session again.”

“No problem. Let’s do our best today too.”

Lately, Adjutant Dalshim was acting oddly more fired up compared to before. Uh, it wasn’t just him though. All of the other Clan members were acting very motivated as well.

After breakfast, I tried asking Elna about it while we were on the way to the training ground.

“Everyone’s been acting really fired up lately. Do you know what that’s about?”

“It looks like everyone else has finally realized just how extraordinary Alan, Selena, and Sharon are compared to themselves and other warriors. And I think meeting Gloria is also a big factor in their change in attitude. In order to keep up with Alan and the others, who are like characters from legends given form, they’ve decided that doing things the normal way just wouldn’t cut it.”

Well, imperial marines really weren’t normal humans, but enhanced ones through the power of nanomachines. There’s no way normal humans could keep up with us.

Even so, I was impressed that everyone was still thinking of catching up to us despite the difference in strength and abilities, and became inspired.

“……I see. It looks like I need to do my best as well.”

Afterward, the rest of the day was devoted to training.

We revised the training menu again and did some adjustments to the training methods for martial arts and swordsmanship in addition to the physical strengthening workouts in order to ensure they would be suitable for everyone.

I focused not only on the training menu but also on the meals as well. I consulted with Iris and endeavored to come up with a balanced meal plan that would contribute to building up the Clan member’s strength and stamina.

Due to the special training sessions we’ve had during the past two weeks, everyone’s movements have become sharper and more refined than before. Iris was also quite surprised at everyone’s rate of growth.

We’ve been training non-stop for the last couple of weeks, but I plan to let everyone take a break tomorrow. The auction for the dragon materials will begin tomorrow after all. It would be bad if I didn’t manage to attend.

After finishing our customary hundred-man sparring session, I shouted for everyone to take a break.

“Alan-sama, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor? Is it the usual greeting?”

Recently, it seems merchants from all sorts of places have been arriving in Gantz in droves, and they come to our Home frequently in order to pay us a visit. I entertained the first two or three, but it soon became such a drag that I ended up refusing everyone else.

“No, it seems they are Alan-sama’s acquaintances. Um, he told us his name was Tarus-dono.”

“Eh!? Tarus-san is actually here!?”

I looked toward the main gate and certainly saw two people who looked very much like Tarus-san and Jonas-san. Oh, and it looks like Katolle was with them as well. I hurriedly went toward the gate.

“It’s been a long time, Tarus-san, Jonas-san, and Katolle-san too.”

“It truly has been. Hello, Alan-san. No, would it be better if I addressed you as Alan-sama instead?”

“What are you saying? You can just call me Alan like usual. It’s not comfortable to stand around in the open, so let’s go inside, shall we?”

“We’ll be intruding on you all then. Sorry for coming over suddenly without prior notice.”

Ria and the others also noticed Tarus-san, so they hurried over to exchange greetings. We ended up having tea in the dining hall.

“I say, this truly is such a magnificent building. I read in one of your letters that you intended to found a Clan, but I didn’t think you’d be able to create a Clan this splendid in such a short time.”

“I should have told you more details in my letter. So, I assume you came to Gantz in order to participate in the dragon material auction, right, Tarus-san?”

“That’s correct. Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare to come by after all. I immediately set off from Gotania the moment I heard the news. However, I was well and truly surprised this time around. The news of a dragon being subjugated was shocking enough, but to think it was you, Alan, who actually subdued the dragon. It’s the greatest shock I’ve experienced in decades.”

“Well, it just sort of happened. ……If you are eyeing for any particular dragon material, I can sell it to you directly for a reasonable price.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I don’t want the other merchants to hold a grudge against me after all. I shall obediently participate in the auction this time.”

“Alan-san, just how did you subjugate the dragon?”

Katolle urged me to share my story, so I told him the abridged version. It’s already become a very popular topic in town lately anyway, so you can listen to several versions of it pretty easily. Katolle’s eyes shone in excitement, and he listened with occasional gasps of surprise and admiration.

“Alan-san, I’d like to take some of your time after the auction ends. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you privately.”

There’s a matter Tarus-san wants to discuss with me privately? Is it about magic tools? Well, there’s no use thinking about it right now anyway.

“Of course. You can come and pay a visit to us any time.”

After some more small talk, Tarus-san and company finally went back to the inn they booked a room in.

The members who’ve finished their training menu for the day began to gather in the dining hall as well. Oh, so it’s already this late huh. I guess I’ll take a bath first.

“Alan-sama! It’s terrible! Someone claiming to be a noble’s attendant just arrived!”

“What!? This is bad! I can’t go out looking like this.”

I just came from training after all, so I was still wearing leather armor.

“Alan, there’s no need to be so worried. It’s just an attendant, right? It’s most likely just a preliminary visit, so you can go out as is.”

Oh, right. Come to think of it, a noble attendant was still technically a commoner huh. I ended up panicking because of Kenny’s tone. Since it’s just a preliminary visit, then I suppose he’s just here to arrange an appointment.

“I see. Alright. I’ll see him now.”

And so, around ten people, including Ria and I, went out and headed for the compound gate. We found two middle-aged men standing before the gate. They wore pretty fancy clothes for commoners. As expected of noble attendants, I guess.

“I am Alan.”

The two attendants knelt in front of me.

“My name is Baker, and I am a servant of Baron Volker Herring. Baron Herring has sent me to tell you that he would like to pay you a visit at your convenience.”

He hasn’t told me what the purpose of the baron’s visit is, but would it be rude of me to ask?

But he sure is acting all humble for an attendant of a noble.

“There’s no need for the baron to pay a visit himself. If it’s alright, just set a time and place, and we’ll be the ones to pay the baron a visit instead.”

“No. The baron expressly wishes to pay a visit to you in person. I’m sorry for being so sudden, but if it’s possible, can we ask for an appointment at ten in the morning tomorrow?”

It would have been better if he’d said it in the beginning if they were already eyeing a particular date and time though.

Does the baron want to check out our living conditions or something? The auction will begin in the afternoon tomorrow. I guess we’ll have some time in the morning.

“Understood. Then let’s set the appointment to tomorrow at ten in the morning.”

“Thank you very much! We’ll be excusing ourselves then.”

After performing a bow, the attendants finally departed.

“To think a mere baron dares to pay Alan-sama such an abrupt visit! Just what is the king of this country thinking!?”

“That attitude earlier was unacceptable! So a baron’s attendant is just of that caliber.”

The knights among our members who came from noble houses themselves were saying whatever they wanted after the attendants left.

But the noble’s finally arrived huh. The auction will begin tomorrow so he barely made it huh. At worst, I was thinking of delaying the auction of the main dragon materials, but I guess we’ll be able to make it work somehow.

There were lots of discussions and speculations about the messenger even at dinner, but I didn’t participate in them since I’ll learn what it’s all about tomorrow anyway.

“What do you think should I wear tomorrow? My uniform?”

“I don’t think there’s much of a need to be that particular with your outfit tomorrow since the other party is just a knight, but in any case, you won’t go wrong with that outfit.”

It looks like Cleria’s looking down on the poor baron as well. Apparently, a baron’s status was lower than I first thought.

It won’t do to overthink things anyway. I’ll just take a bath and sleep early then.

Now then, tomorrow, I’ll finally get to meet with the noble envoy sent by this kingdom. I wonder how it will turn out?